Death of St. Francis of Assisi
The Death of St. Francis of Assisi marks the end of the life of a significant figure in Christian history, who is celebrated for founding the Franciscan order and promoting ideals of poverty and service. Born Francesco di Pietro di Bernardone in 1181 in Assisi, Italy, he underwent a profound transformation from a wealthy merchant's son to a devoted follower of Christ after experiencing visions and a commitment to aid the poor. His teachings emphasized love for nature and all living beings, earning him recognition as the patron saint of ecology by Pope John Paul II in 1979. St. Francis is known for several miraculous encounters, such as preaching to animals and receiving the stigmata, marks resembling Christ's wounds, after a period of intense prayer and fasting. He died on or about October 4, 1226, in Assisi, a date that is often commemorated by his followers and within the wider Christian community. Following his death, Francis was canonized as a saint in 1228, solidifying his legacy as a pivotal figure in the Catholic Church and an emblem of humility and compassion.
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Death of St. Francis of Assisi
Death of St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis of Assisi, whose original name was Francesco di Pietro di Bernardone, died on or about October 4, 1226. He founded the Franciscan order and began a movement within the Roman Catholic Church that emphasized poverty and service. Francis was canonized as a saint in the Catholic Church on July 16, 1228, and was recognized as the patron saint of ecology by Pope John Paul II in 1979.
Francis was born in 1181 in Assisi, Italy. His mother, Pica, gave birth to him while his father, Pietro di Bernadone, a wealthy cloth merchant, was traveling on business. She named the baby Giovanni, but when Bernadone returned he had his son's name changed to Francesco, a tribute to the country of France which he loved. While Francis was still a young man, the town of Assisi declared war on Perugia. He was captured in battle and spent a year as a prisoner of war before he was ransomed. The captivity Francis endured did not dissuade him from military life, and in 1205 he prepared to join papal forces during the Fourth Crusade. On his way to join the army, he had a dream or vision that called for him to return home, so Francis went back to Assisi and began to devote himself to prayer as he attempted to discern God's will for his life.
There are several recorded occurrences which are known to have influenced Francis in his life choices. For example, while riding through the countryside, Francis encountered a leper whose sight and smell he found repulsive, yet he leapt off his horse and kissed the leper's hand, and then he was filled with joy. Later, Francis went to a church at San Damiano, located outside the gate of Assisi, to pray. While there he heard the crucified figure of Christ that hung above the altar speak to him, saying, “Go, Francis, and repair my house which, as you see, is well-nigh in ruins.” Taking this command literally, Francis took some fine cloth from his father's shop to the town of Foligno and sold both the cloth and his horse. He then attempted to give the money to a priest at San Damiano.
When his father heard of the matter, he was outraged. He took Francis before the town and the bishop, then demanded that his son return the money. According to many accounts, Francis not only returned the money to his father but also stripped off all of his clothes and declared God to be his only father. Wearing only a cloak that the bishop gave to him, Francis set off for the woods of Mount Subasio.
From that time on, Francis renounced material possessions. He began to restore the church at San Damiano by begging for aid and doing most of the work himself. Francis also worked on the chapel of St. Mary of the Angels, gradually acquiring a following of people who wanted to copy his way of life. Together with 12 men, he went to Rome to seek approval for their way of life. Pope Innocent III gave oral acceptance to the new Franciscan order in 1210. Two years later, Francis established a second order for women, who became known as the Poor Clares.
Francis, a lover of all nature, considered animals to be his brothers and sisters. In some of the stories concerning his extraordinary ability to communicate with animals, he is said to have preached to birds who flocked to hear him, and to have persuaded a wolf to stop terrorizing a village. Francis also desired to preach the Gospel beyond Italy. Several attempts to do so were unsuccessful until 1219, when he went to Egypt and preached to the Muslim sultan. Francis then traveled to the Holy Land and returned to Italy to deal with problems of dissension among friars in his order. After resigning as leader he eventually established the Third Order of Franciscans, the tertiaries.
In the late summer or early fall of 1224, Francis was praying at the mountain retreat of Monte della Verna after fasting for 40 days. He then discovered on his body the stigmata (marks that resemble the wounds of the crucified Christ). In pain and almost totally blind from an eye disease, Francis was brought back to Assisi. He died there on or about October 4, 1226, although some sources list that as the date of his burial rather than his death.